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The shuttle guard on a Hammond typewriter is an important bit of metal that is responsible for ensuring that only one letter strikes the page at a time. Due to the unique construction of the machine, the striking force is delivered from the rear, rather than from the front. This presses the paper, which is held straight and vertical, into the type. All three rows of letters on the type shuttle contact the surface of the page, and the shuttle guard ensures that only the desired letter is inked and impressed. This piece undergoes a lot of wear in the course of a century, and sometimes needs to be replaced. I was contacted by J. Posey to fabricate a new shuttle guard for his Hammond Multiplex.

Starting with several photographs, I outlined rough shape and dimensions of the part and transferred it onto some lightly tempered steel. The steel is paper thin and was cut with scissors.

The two wire clips on the sides were similar to older paper clips of a thick stock wire. These were solde…